Dr. Mauro Zammarano

Dr. Mauro Zammarano is a guest researcher in the Flammability Reduction Group of the Fire Research Division (FRD) of the Engineering Laboratory (EL) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Dr. Zammarano is Assistant Research Professor of Chemistry at American University and a guest researcher at NIST since 2005.

He pioneered the use of anionic clays, i.e., layered double hydroxides, as nano-additives in flame retardant polymer nanocomposites. Since then he expanded his research to a wide range of areas in polymer nanocomposites and flammability including: the synthesis of anionic and cationic clays with tuned chemical-physical properties; the enhancement of intumescent coatings performance with nano-additives; the synergy between conventional flame retardants and nanoparticles; the effect of nanoparticles and network formation on flammability of flexible polyurethane foams; the development of modified cone calorimetry to assess the flammability in presence of flaming liquid.

He is currently involved in projects focusing on the development of sustainable flame retardant nanocomposites and fluorescent labeling of polymers and nanoparticles for monitoring the meso-scale structure of nanocomposites.